According to identity theft expert Rob Douglas, approximately 15 million U.S. residents have their identities stolen each year, with losses totaling upwards of $50 billion. One billion records containing personally identifiable information were leaked in 2014. The identity theft problem continues to grow.

Thieves use many different methods to steal our identities— skimming credit and debit cards, phishing hacking into online accounts, stealing wallets or purses, and looking through trash. In our increasingly digital world, we are exposing ourselves to these types of attacks on our personal identity more and more.

Here are five things you can do to better protect yourself:

Use strong passwords. Make your passwords unique and stay away from things that are easy to figure out like birthdates or your mother’s maiden name. Also, don’t use the same password for every site. That way, if an identity thief gets one password, they won’t have access to everything.

Shred financial documents. Don’t just throw away bank and credit card statements or any documents that list your Social Security number. Shred these documents before putting them in the trash.

Be wary of giving information over the phone and internet. Before giving out your personal information be sure you are dealing with the right company and person.

Check your credit report. Review your credit reports annually to ensure no credit lines have been opened in your name that you did not authorize.

Keep copies of your credit and debit cards. Make photocopies of the front and back of all your cards and store them somewhere safe, so you will have all the necessary contact information if they are ever stolen.

Even if you take every precaution, identity theft can still happen. When you fall victim to identity theft, time and expertise are of the essence. Without professional assistance, identify theft victims often face weeks of frustration, uncertainty, and anger trying to resolve the crisis on their own. Acuity offers Identity Fraud Expense Coverage to reimburse you for the costs to restore your identity and also connects you with expert assistance from the nation’s leader in theft resolution and education.

Lisa D. has over 14 years of experience in the auto insurance industry, including 12 years at ACUITY. She obtained her P&C license and sold personal insurance for two years before starting at ACUITY, where she focuses on researching new auto coverages, helping with the auto pricing system, and leading auto insurance-related projects. On top of that, Lisa has her Association in General Insurance (AINS) and Associate in Personal Insurance (API) designations. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys cooking, photography, and spending time with her family. The last two go hand in hand, as she takes pictures of her kids every day.

As a realtor, you work hard to gain new prospects, but have you thought about how you're keeping up with your prior clients? According to Juanita McDowell of the InMotion Real Estate Institute, 86% of people don't use the same real estate agent a second time.

The holidays are nearly here, which likely means celebrations full of the three Fs—family, food, and fun! Here at Acuity, we believe strongly in all three. That is why we asked our employees to share some of their favorite holiday recipes with you.

"Acuity" and its logo are registered trademarks of Acuity, A Mutual Insurance Company. All coverages are underwritten by Acuity, A Mutual Insurance Company with the exception of personal automobile coverage in the state of Texas, which is offered by Acuity TX MGA, Inc. and underwritten by Home State County Mutual Insurance Company. Home State County Mutual Insurance Company is not an affiliate of any Acuity company.

Information and coverage descriptions on this site are general in nature. Actual coverage depends on the policy. Nothing on this site alters the terms or conditions of any of our policies. Supplementary coverage options may be added to an insurance policy for an additional cost where applicable. See your agent for more information. Product and features are subject to underwriting criteria and may not be available in all states. Discounts may not apply to all coverages.